Sailor
Sensing someone’s presence at my desk, I flit my gaze up and stare at, um, a male’s package in tight jeans. Clearing my throat, I hurry and look higher. Jake Callister is staring down at me with a knowing smile.
“Good morning,” I say as I stand and straighten my cream blouse.
“Morning. I have a problem. After I finished reading with Maddie last night, I told her I’d put her book in her backpack, and I forgot to do it, so I’m running back home to get it. She’s anxious about it and angry with me.”
Glancing around the room, I see Maddie at the cubby station putting up her backpack.
“It’s fine. I understand these things happen, especially with a five-year-old during the first week of school.” I wave my hand toward him. “She can bring it back Monday.”
“No,” he says, shaking his head. “I told her I’d go get it, and I’m not breaking another promise.”
“Well, that’s sweet of you.” I look around my classroom to keep an eye on my students still arriving.
I’m also doing it to stop myself from admiring Jake’s striking features: his high cheekbones, faint dimples that add a boyish charm to his seductive smile and glass-bottle green eyes as bright and crystal-like as the ones I would find washed up on beaches as a child.
“OK, I’ll be back then.” He doesn’t move, so I feel forced to take another glimpse of him.
“We’ll be here,” I reply with a smile.
***
About forty-five minutes into class, an aide who helps and subs throughout the school, Annie, comes into my classroom. She’s pale, and her forehead is crowded with worry lines. I stop speaking as she walks over to me.
“I need to talk to you in the hall.”
“OK.” Turning to my students, I force a smile since I’m concerned over the news Annie’s about to give me. The twenty-three-year-old was always upbeat the last school year.
“Class, I have to speak to Ms. Cooper in the hallway, but I’ll be right back.”
“No, you won’t be,” Annie whispers as she tucks her long chestnut-brown hair behind her ear.
“What’s wrong?”
She looks at my students, who are paying close attention.
“Class, Ms. Lockwood has to leave, but I’ll be right back to teach you today. I have a fun activity planned for us.”
Gathering my purse from a drawer in my desk, I follow her into the hallway, and she grasps my arm. “Your friend Carrie has been trying to reach you on your cell phone. She finally called the office. She said your apartment complex is on fire. The whole building.”
As I cover my mouth, I begin to shake.
“No, that can’t be right.”
“I’m so sorry, Sailor.”
Tears flood my eyes. “But Carrie’s OK?”
“Yes, she got out. She said she’s waiting right outside a blockade.”
Nodding, I fight back the dam of tears about to break free.
“OK, I’ll go. Thank you. Um, my lesson plan is open on my desk. We’re working on colors this morning. Call me if you have questions.”
She squeezes my arm. “Go take care of yourself today. I can handle things here.”
Needing someone to hug, I pull her in for one before I hurry down the hall. My flats clack on the shiny floor, but I can’t be quiet right now. I run out the front door and wipe away the tears falling to my cheeks.
I spot Jake Callister strolling up the sidewalk, and talking to him again is not what I need right now. Upon seeing my tears, he furrows his brow, so I hold up a hand.
“I have an emergency, but there’s a sub in the class you can leave the book with.” I notice he’s also holding a three pack of Kleenex boxes shrink-wrapped together. He grasps my arm as I try to pass him.
“Wait, maybe I could help.”
“I doubt that. My apartment building is on fire.”
“Shit, is that the one on Clinton?”
“Yes, how did you know?”
“I’m a detective. I heard it come across my radio in the car.” He looks me over, and I inhale a deep breath to stop my body from shaking. “Let me take you. You have no business driving.”
“Don’t you have to work?”
“Not today. Let me run the book inside so Maddie doesn’t get upset.” He pulls a set of keys from his front jeans pocket. “Here, it’s the silver GT-R in a visitor’s spot.”
Recalling what Carrie said about it being good for me to talk to Jake, I nod and take his keys. He’s right that I’m in no shape to drive, so I utter, “Thank you” and walk to his car. Once inside, I find a tissue in my purse and call Carrie.
“Hello,” she answers, sounding panicked.
“Carrie, are you OK?”
“Yes, minus being shaken up.”
“What happened?”
“That damn Ms. Barnes started a fire on her stove. I knew we should’ve told social services our concerns over her living alone. She’s too damn old and forgetful. At least a lot of the tenants in our building had already left for the day, so I’m praying everyone got out safely.
“I was about to leave, too, when the fire alarm sounded, so I hurried and grabbed a couple of things. Sailor, I got your penguin.” Covering my mouth, I weep.
“Your safety is most important to me, but I can’t thank you enough for grabbing it.”
“It’s all I could get of yours. I’m sorry. From the looks of the building, I think we lost everything.”
“I don’t know what I would’ve done if I’d lost you.”
“I’m fine, really.”
“I’ll be there soon. I love you.”
“I love you, too.”